During the month of July, a number of activities were organised with adolescents and youths with a view to getting to know themselves and what there is in their hearts.

Risk it! Was the chosen theme for the Tagaste Youth with a strong invitation not to be afraid to move forward in their life and to live a life based on their faith with more conviction.

Hagan Lio! Make your voices heard! This is a phrase used by Pope Francis when he addressed youths and which was a challenge proposed to Augustinian Youths not to be afraid to make their voices heard and to be a living presence full of enthusiasm in our society.

An experience of volunteering differently

Augustinian Youths had a different experience by visiting the Dar tal-Kleru (the home for aged members of the clergy). On Sunday 11th July these youths animated the Eucharist with the residents of that home who, afterwards, were given a small gift (wooden coaster) prepared by the youths themselves.

Matthew Xuereb, a member of Augustinian Youths, shares with us his experience:

“In today’s world, as we proceed in life, it has become easy to forget those around us. We are so lost and immersed in what we are going through from one thing to another, that we tend to forget others around us who feel they are alone. We forget that there are many persons, especially aged ones, who live in homes for residents who have no contact with the outside world.

Fortunately, however, along with my Augustinian Youths friends, we had the oppotunity of visiting the residents at the Dar tal-Kleru, where we met aged priests who reside there. We also had the opportunity to celebrate Sunday Mass with them and the activity closed when we distributed, to each of the residents, wooden coasters as a gift of our visit. These were made by each and every member of our group and were personalised.”

Tagaste Youths offered some hours during the morning of Saturday 24 July by participating in Caritas’ project “Itma u Libbes” (feed and dress) which involved sorting out clothing that had been collected. This was a different experience that helped these adolescents appreciate more what they themselves had whilst at the same time having cognizance of the needs of others.

Formation meeting on the beginning of life by See Life

On Friday 23 July the group See Life, made up of youths who have at hearts life, was invited to share their ideas and reflections on the beginning of life. This was an opportunity for adolescents and youths to ask questions and to discuss their thoughts and beliefs.

Moments together

Notwithstanding the situation caused by the pandemic, Augustinian Youths and Tagaste Youths had the opportunity of spending a number of hours together through these different activities. Tagaste Youths continued to get to know the Pieta’ community by spending some time at the convent during lunchtime and also in the course of other activities.

Fr Terence Spiteri osa